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President Akufo-Addo has extended the ban on public meetings until the end of May 2020.
He made the announcement during his ninth nationwide speech since the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
Before this announcement, some people had asked the President to relax the rules. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) disagreed.
In a statement, they asked the government to remain determined to uphold the ban on social gatherings, as they believe that “non-adherence to Covid-19 preventive measures at this point in our collective fight against the disease has enormous potential to erode any profit made so far. “
Pressure group OccupyGhana echoed similar sentiments when it also called for the ban not to be relaxed.
They said in a statement that “we believe that reducing restrictions at this time and lifting the ban on social gatherings would be very risky.” Relaxing the restrictions could accelerate the spread of the community, expose the most vulnerable Ghanaians, increase the number of symptomatic cases and increase the case fatality rate. ”
President Akufo-Addo in his speech on Sunday May 10, 2020 did exactly that.
He said that “in my speech to the workers and the nation on May, I announced the extension of the closure of our borders for one more month as a means to continue stopping the import of the virus into our country.”
“Tonight, I have come to your homes to announce that the ban on public meetings as established in Executive Instrument number 64 has been extended, also at the end of the month, that is, on May 31,” he added.
This means that during this period, the ban on public gatherings, such as holding conferences, workshops, parties, nightclubs, drinking places, beaches, festivals, political rallies, religious activities, and sporting events, will continue.
In addition, all educational facilities, private and public, will remain closed.
President Akufo-Addo stressed that there is still a ban on funerals, apart from private burials conducted with no more than 25 people.
“It should be noted that the police are arresting and prosecuting people regardless of their status in society who do not comply with these regulations,” said the president.
He added that “we cannot allow a few people with their narrow selfish interests to jeopardize the health, well-being and safety of the general population.” If you do not comply with the law, you will face all its rigors. ”
President Akufo-Addo said that while he would like to see an end to the restrictions, they are necessary for Ghana to make significant progress in the Covid-19 fight.
“Most of us want to hang out with our families, friends, and loved ones in a social setting, but we can’t. As uncomfortable as these restrictions have been, we have no choice but to stay the course.
“We can only guarantee mutual security if we continue to adhere to them. As I said before, these restrictions cannot sit-ups will not be a permanent feature of our lives.
“In short, I hope to announce steps to systematically facilitate restrictive measures to return to normal,” he added.
